Sasikumar Jayaprakash, Ebrahim Rumaisa Ali, Das Shankar Prasad
Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to Be University), Mangalore, India.
Mycoses. 2025 Jan;68(1):e70014. doi: 10.1111/myc.70014.
A niche in the context of microorganisms defines the specific ecological role or habitat inhabited by microbial species within an ecosystem. For the human commensal Malassezia, the skin surface is considered its primary niche, where it adapts to the skin environment by utilising lipids as its main carbon and energy source. However pathogenic characteristics of Malassezia include the production of allergens, immune modulation and excessive lipid utilisation, which result in several diseases such as pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, Malassezia folliculitis and atopic dermatitis. Recent studies have revealed Malassezia colonisation in internal organs, including the lungs, gut, genitourinary tract, eyes, ears and breast milk. In these organs, Malassezia is associated with diseases linked to respiratory conditions, neurological disorders, gastrointestinal diseases and genital infections. The immune system plays a critical role in shaping Malassezia prevalence, with factors like, immune suppressive drugs and underlying health conditions influencing susceptibility. Accurate diagnosis of Malassezia-related skin disorders is challenging due to its unique growth requirements, but molecular fingerprinting assays and sequencing methods, particularly ITS sequencing, offer precise identification. Treatment involves antifungal drugs, corticosteroids and phytocompounds, yet recurrent infections highlight the need for more targeted therapeutic strategies addressing Malassezia's pathogenic characteristics. Understanding the complex interactions between Malassezia and the host organs is crucial for diagnosis, treatment and prevention and exploring its potentially beneficial roles in health and disease. This review highlights the current findings on the intricate interactions between Malassezia and the diverse ecosystem of the human body, underscoring the complexity of these associations and emphasising their multifaceted role in health and disease.
在微生物学背景下，生态位定义了生态系统中微生物物种所占据的特定生态角色或栖息地。对于人体共生菌马拉色菌而言，皮肤表面被认为是其主要生态位，它通过利用脂质作为主要碳源和能源来适应皮肤环境。然而，马拉色菌的致病特性包括产生过敏原、免疫调节和过度利用脂质，这会导致多种疾病，如花斑癣、脂溢性皮炎、马拉色菌毛囊炎和特应性皮炎。最近的研究揭示了马拉色菌在包括肺、肠道、泌尿生殖道、眼睛、耳朵和母乳在内的内部器官中的定植情况。在这些器官中，马拉色菌与呼吸系统疾病、神经系统疾病、胃肠道疾病和生殖器感染相关的疾病有关。免疫系统在决定马拉色菌的流行程度方面起着关键作用，免疫抑制药物和潜在健康状况等因素会影响易感性。由于马拉色菌独特的生长要求，准确诊断与马拉色菌相关的皮肤疾病具有挑战性，但分子指纹分析和测序方法，特别是ITS测序，可提供精确的鉴定。治疗方法包括抗真菌药物、皮质类固醇和植物化合物，但反复感染凸显了需要针对马拉色菌致病特性的更有针对性的治疗策略。了解马拉色菌与宿主器官之间的复杂相互作用对于诊断、治疗和预防至关重要，同时也有助于探索其在健康和疾病中潜在的有益作用。本综述重点介绍了目前关于马拉色菌与人体多样生态系统之间复杂相互作用的研究结果，强调了这些关联的复杂性，并突出了它们在健康和疾病中的多方面作用。
